Bedding The Billionaire (Bedding the Bachelors Book 3) Read Online Free

was firmly in her past.
    She just had to make sure she acted like it. When they weren’t together, she could convince herself she had no regrets. But when he was near? For some reason, Jamie had the ability to throw her equilibrium off and make her feel a confusing whirl of emotions that made her act very unlike herself.
    “Jamie. What brings you here?” Lucy asked. She placed her notes back on the desktop and crossed her arms over her chest.
    He smiled and the combination of those incredible eyes, framed with mile-long dark eyelashes and a killer row of even white teeth, made Lucy shiver.
    “I was in the neighborhood,” he said, “and I thought I’d stop by and say hello.”
    “Well, you gave my students quite a thrill. Think how giddy they’d be if they knew you were as rich as a sheikh.”
    “Yes, well…obviously not all women find my wealth to be an asset.”
    Lucy almost winced. It was true his money—or more precisely, the lifestyle and expectations that ultimately came along with the money—had sent her running, and even as she acknowledged how unfair that was, she also knew that eventually, he’d have been the one to judge her inferior and walk away from her. She’d just made sure she’d done it first.
    “I noticed you didn’t deny you’re as rich as a sheikh.”
    He sighed. “Honestly, Lucy. Can we just not go there?”
    Regret sent heat rushing to her cheeks. She’d meant it as a joke, but in hearing her own words, she’d just sounded snarky. She straightened some books on her desk. “You’re right. No point.”
    She studied him again. Even before she’d learned about Jamie’s affluent background, she’d never thought of him as a typical professor. He was handsome, to the point that he could make a woman forget her own name, and he was confident, commanding a room with his quiet presence alone. He had a sense of style, too, dressing in clothes that flattered his coloring and were tailor-made. She’d noticed right away that everything he wore was superb quality, even if it was just jeans and hiking boots. He taught environmental studies and spent a lot of time outdoors, taking his students on “learning trips” as he liked to call them. He was a hands-on professor and one of the smartest people Lucy had ever met. Most of all, he was truly a nice person. She’d never heard him speak an unkind word to anyone.
    Focus, Lucy. Focus on being civil and pleasant and getting him the hell out of here. But why was he here? He’d been on her side of campus before and he’d never stopped by. Why now?
    “How’s Joanna?” she asked, referring to the English professor he’d been dating the past few weeks.
    “I assume she’s fine. We’re no longer seeing each other. What about Jericho?”
    She spared a thought for the man she’d dated on the rebound soon after breaking up with Jamie. Jericho had been a long-haired, artsy and moody man with more piercings than a college campus bulletin board. He’d fit into her world perfectly. They’d spent their time combing through farmer’s markets and making vegan meals, and he’d played the ukulele for her over falafel. For a few months things had been good, but then Jericho had gone and Googled her. Suddenly, after finding out who her father was, he started asking her to front the bill when they went out to dinner. To “invest” in a new art studio and a new van he could haul his paintings in.
    And when she’d told him she and her family didn’t speak?
    He’d suggested—in all seriousness—that she act more like daddy’s little girl so she could gain access to daddy’s money.
    Screw that.
    Sex with Jericho hadn’t been that good. Certainly not worth putting up with bullshit. And it wasn’t good enough to get Jamie Whitcomb out of her mind, either. So she’d tossed the sprouts out of her refrigerator, stocked it with steaks, and told Jericho to take his ukulele and stuff it up his—
    “We broke up a while ago, as well.”
    “Ah. Any big